Unintented Consequences of Social Action 3402-00UCOSC
The class begins by reviewing the sociological debates on the unanticipated consequences of purposive social action and on the manifest-latent functions distinction which were occasioned by Robert K. Merton’s publication of two famous articles on these topics. Building on these debates, established typologies of unintended consequences of action are introduced and discussed (Patrick Baert, Alejandro Portes). The class further presents theoretical treatments and empirical sites which were investigated in relation to particular unintended scenarios within these typologies: latent function (Robert K. Merton, Colin Campbell), lucky turn of events (i.e., Charles Tilly’s invisible elbow), mid-course shift (Max Weber, Robert Michels), logic of consequentiality and logic of appropriateness (James G. March, Johan P. Olsen), consequential and non-consequential actions, decoupling (John W. Meyer and Brian Rowan), means appropriation (see Philip Selznick), perverse effects (Raymond Boudon), social contradictions (Jon Elster), as well as social anomalies (James Coleman).
Efekty kształcenia
Knowledge
The student will acquire knowledge about theoretical debates and conceptual treatments of unintended consequences of purposive social action in the sociological field. After finishing this course, the student will be able to master the following notions: purposive social action, unintended consequences, manifest and latent functions, intangibility of goals, means appropriation, logic of consequentiality and logic of appropriateness etc.
Skills
The student will acquire skills of critical interpretation of papers and books from the field of sociology of the unintended in English language. The student will be able to use the unintended and unanticipated terminology and describe social phenomena implementing these concepts. The student will be able to compare different approaches to the same problem and interpret the difference between theoretical assumptions and various definitions of the same notions.
Competences
The student will acquire competences of reading and understanding academic English language, of taking part in discussions, of presenting orally and of constructing written reactions in English language.
Kryteria oceniania
In order to receive a satisfactory grade, the student is required to take part in discussions and give a concise presentation (in powerpoint) summarizing his/her critical comments to the assigned readings for one class. Furthermore, the student is also required to submit a reaction paper on the assigned readings before three classes (max. 500 words each). The student’s final grade depends on the participation in class (30%), on the originality, editing and style of the critical argument in the three reaction papers (30%), and on the presentation of the critical comments to the readings of one class (30%)
The student is required to read all assigned materials prior to class, and his/her knowledge is evaluated during the discussions. From time to time, tests might be organized in order to check whether the student is attending that specific class prepared.
The student’s skills are evaluated upon his/her participation in discussions and presentation.
The student’s competences are evaluated upon his/her participation in discussions and presentation.
Literatura
1-2. Mertonian and Non-Mertonian Paradigms of Unintended Consequences -- I and II
Merton, Robert K. 1936. “The Unanticipated Consequences of Purposive Social Action.” American Sociological Review 1: 894-904.
Merton, Robert K. 1968. “Manifest and Latent” in Social Theory and Social Structure. New York, London: The Free Press.
Mica, Adriana; Peisert, Arkadiusz; Winczorek, Jan. 2011. “Introduction” in Sociology and the Unintended. Robert Merton Revisited, edited by Adriana Mica, Arkadiusz Peisert, Jan Winczorek. Frankfurt am Main, Berlin, Bern, Bruxelles, New York, Oxford, Warszawa, Wien: Peter Lang, pp. 9-24.
3-4. Typologies -- I and II
Portes, Alejandro. 2010. “Reflections on a Common Theme. Establishing the Phenomenon, Adumbration, and Ideal Types” in Robert K. Merton. Sociology of Science and Sociology as Science, edited by Craig Calhoun. New York: Columbia University Press, pp. 32-53.
Baert, Patrick. 1991. “Unintended Consequences: A Typology and Examples.” International Sociology 6: 201-210.
Portes, Alejandro. 2010. “Unanticipated Consequences of Rational Action” in Economic Sociology. A Systematic Inquiry. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press, pp. 18-24.
5. The Latent Function
Campbell, Colin. 1982. “A Dubious Distinction? An Inquiry into the Value and Use of Merton's Concepts of Manifest and Latent Function.” American Sociological Review 47: 29-44.
Elster, Jon. 1990. “Merton’s Functionalism and the Unintended Consequences of Action” in Robert Merton: Consensus and Controversy, edited by Jon Clark, Celia Modgil and Sohan Modgli. London, New-York, Philadelphia: Falmer Press, pp. 129-135.
Boudon, Raymond. 1990. “Interchange. Boudon Replies to Elster” in Robert Merton: Consensus and Controversy, edited by Jon Clark, celia Modgil and Sohan Modgil. London, New York, Philadelphia: Falmer Press, pp. 136-137.
6. The Lucky Turn of Events
Charles, Tilly. “Invisible Elbow.” Sociological Forum 11: 589-601.
7-8. Perverse Effects and Social Contradictions -- I and II
Hedström, Peter; Udehn, Lars. 2011. “Analytical Sociology and Theories of the Middle Range” in The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology, edited by Peter Hedström and Peter Bearman. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 25-47.
Van Parijs, Philippe. 1982. “Perverse Effects and Social Contradictions: Analytical Vindication of Dialectics?” The British Journal of Sociology 33: 589-603.
9-10. Social Anomalies
Coleman, James S. 1994. ”A Rational Choice Perspective on Economic Sociology” in Handbook of Economic Sociology¸ edited by Neil J. Smelser and Richard Swedberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 166-180.
11. The Mid-course Shift
Weber, Max. 2009. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. New York; Oxford : Oxford University Press (general presentation).
Michels, Robert. 1968. Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies in Modern Democracy. Reprint, New York: Free Press (general presentation).
12-13. Logic of Consequentiality and Logic of Appropriateness -- I and II
March, James G.; Olsen, Johan P. “The Logic of Appropriateness”, ARENA Working Papers, WP 04/09.
Elster, Jon. 2007. Explaining Social Behavior: More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (general presentation).
14. Means Appropriation and Decoupling -- I and II; Conclusions
Selznick, Philip. 1992. The Moral Commonwealth: Social Theory and the Promise of Community. Berkeley University of California Press (general presentation).
Meyer, John W.; Rowan, Brian. 1977. “Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony.” The American Journal of Sociology 83: 340-363.
Boxenbaum, Eva; Jonsson, Stefan. 2008. “Isomorphism, Diffusion and Decoupling,” The Sage Handbook of Organizational Institutionalism, edited by Royston Greenwood, Christine Oliver, Kerstin Sahlin and Roy Suddaby. London: Sage Publications, pp. 78-98.
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